Then Wednesday I made a sausage and spinach quiche.  Wouldn’t you know it, someone asked me what was in it.  I think I said something like, “Uhhhhh, some sausage, eggs, spinach, cheese, uhhhh.  Hmmm. Let me think.”  Honestly, I have no clue the amounts of each thing in the quiche.  I just kept adding more eggs, milk, seasonings, until I thought it looked right.  Recently, I’ve been experimenting with making my own caramel macchiatos.  I have it just about right.  They are so good.  Now my friends are asking me for the recipe.  Once again, I am not sure of the amounts.    I realize I am becoming one of those frustrating people that can’t tell you a recipe.

Are you a no recipe kind of cook?

image (c) Karen Weideman

Post from: Keeping the Castle

• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
• Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal at GoodLife Eats
• Pumpkin Waffles at Smitten Kitchen
• Black Bean Pumpkin Soup at Smitten Kitchen
• Pumpkin Spice Latte from Kettle and Cup
• Crockpot Pumpkin Spice Latte from A Year of Slow Cooking
• Creamy and Spicy Pumpkin Soup (low carb) at Low Carb Diets
• Spicy Pumpkin Bisque at About.com Home Cooking
• Baked Stuffed Pumpkin at About.com Home Cooking
• Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Cheesecake at Pumpkin Patch
• Pumpkin Spice Latte Syrup at Think Inside the Icebox
• Pumpkin Spice Roll from Kraft Foods
• Double Layer Pumpkin Pie from Kraft Foods
• Pumpkin Pie from Martha Stewart
• Pumpkin Bread from Food Network
• Pumpkin Roll Cake from Paula Deen at Food Network
• Pumpkin Custard Pie from Emeril Live
• Pumpkin Waffles with Maple Walnut Apples from Food Network
• Delish Pumpkin Dip from Our Recipe Garden
• Pumpkin Bread Pudding from Everyday Food Storage

Which pumpkin recipe do you think you’ll try?

image sxc.hu

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Pumpkin treats

Texan Pumpkin French Toast

Pumpkin Latte

Pumpkin Cookies (with cream cheese icing)

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Napoleons

Luscious Four-Layer Pumpkin Cake

Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce

Espresso Cakes with Pumpkin

Pumpkin Spice Cake

Scrumptious Pumpkin Parfait

Apple treats

My Favorite Apple Cake Recipe

Caramel Apple Bars

Caramel Apple Pie

Chocolate Caramel Apples with Sprinkles

Apple Dumpling Dessert

Apple Upside-Down Cake

Apple Bread

Apple Pear Crisp

Blushing Apples

Weight Watchers Low Point Options:

Apple Pie

Warm Pear Cobbler

Pear Upside Down Cake with Pecans

Apple Pear Crisp

Other treats

Honey’s Carrot Cake

Sweet Potato Cupcakes

Pecan Tarts

Carrot Cake with Honey-Orange Frosting

Sunflower Cake

Cinnamon Pistachio Meringue

Which desserts do you think you’d like to try?

image from Linette Gerlach

Post from: Keeping the Castle

Easy Meatball Dinner

• One 15 oz. can whole potatoes, drained, rinsed, cut into chunks
• 1 cup chopped onions
• 14.5 oz. beef broth
• 32 oz. tomato sauce
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 12 oz. frozen mixed vegetables
• Approx. 15 oz. meatballs.

In a large saucepan, combine potatoes, onions, beef broth, tomato sauce, water, Italian seasoning, pepper and vegetables. Bring to a boil on stovetop. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 8 minutes. Add meatballs, cover and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes.

Meatball Pitas

• 1 package of Mama Lucia Italian Style Meatballs
• 8 small pita breads
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup cubed feta cheese
• 1⁄2 cup chopped black olives
• 1⁄2 cup chopped shredded lettuce
• 1⁄2 cup chopped onion
• 1⁄4 cup parmesan cheese grated
• 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon of oregano

Heat the meatballs on the stove top with red pepper flakes and oregano. Heat the pita breads in the oven on low heat until warm. Once heated, place 2-3 meatballs in each pita bread. Top with feta, mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. As cheese begin to melt, top off with lettuce, onion and black olives. Serve “taco style” for a snack or main meal.

I hope that you enjoy these easy recipes!

Post from: Keeping the Castle

This recipe is great for burritos, tacos, taquitos, and more.  I usually cook a 3-4 pound roast with this recipe and then save half of the cooked roast for the freezer.  It’s nice to pull the cooked beef out of the freezer and have meat that’s ready to use!

 In a crock pot add:

• roast (I use one that’s about 3 pounds.)
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1/2 bell pepper, sliced
• 2 beef boullion cubes
• Adobo seasoning (salt and pepper can be substituted)
• minced garlic
• cumin
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• fresh chopped cilantro (dried cilantro can be substituted)
• water – enough to cover the roast

Cook the beef in the crock pot on high for 6 hours or on low for 8 hours or until the meat is falling apart.  Pull the beef apart and cook for an additional 30 minutes.  Remove from heat.

This meat can be used in so many different Mexican dishes.  The first night I usually make tacos.  Of course, you’ll need taco shells and the traditional taco toppings – cheese, sour cream, salsa, or pico de gallo, etc.  Then I freeze the rest of the meat and use it to make taquitos.  Sometimes my husband puts a little in a breakfast omelet. 

Enjoy!

image (c) Karen Weideman

Post from: Keeping the Castle

My mouth is watering from just looking at these brownies from How to Cook Like Your Grandmother.  I don’t remember my grandmother making anything that looked this good.

These tea party flower sandwiches are so darling. So cute and dainty. These are perfect for a tea party with my little girl.

This short video of a kid parking his toy car will bring a smile to your face.

Nicole at Making it Lovely has organized her closet.  I am so impressed with her system.  After seeing this though, I am feeling a little sad about my pitiful clothes collection.

With the seasons changing, many people are complaining of allergies and sinus problems.  If you have a sinus infection or if you want to prevent one, you might want to try this inexpensive solution.

I’m a fan of Chinese food, especially sesame chicken.  Dexie’s sesame chicken recipe sounds delicious. The pictures are wonderful too.

Which articles are you enjoying?  Leave a link below.

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Coffee Flavored Dessert Recipes

Easy Three Ingredient Peach Crisp

Save Time by Sharing Prepared Foods

How to Upholster a Headboard

Easy Baseball Cake

How to Fix Stretched Sweater Cuffs

How to Add Curb Appeal

Strawberry Cobbler Recipe

Easy Frog and Princess Cupcakes

Easy, Fast, and Nutritious Meals

15 Ways to Get Out of the House on Time

Zip-Up Hypoallergenic Mattress Cover

I’m a Homeowner!

Tips for a Great Cup of Coffee, Part 1

Tips for a Great Cup of Coffee, Part 2

Under the Bed Storage, Part 1

Under the Bed Storage, Part 2

Under the Bed Storage, Part 3

Unnecessary Kitchen Gadget: Spoon Rest

Helpful Tips for Moving, Part 1

Helpful Tips for Moving, Part 2

Warm Taco Dip Recipe

Congratulations to b5 Media’s Marye Audet

Which articles did you enjoy reading?  Is there something you’d like to learn more about?  Let me know and I’ll consider it for a future article. Thanks for reading!

image (c) Karen Weideman

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If you’re looking for something yummy to make for your family or just to drool, you should check out her sites.  You can find Marye at Kettle and Cup, Baking Delights, Everything Cookies and Brownies, and MaryeAudet.com.  Marye’s not just baking up cooking and brownies.  I stopped by Baking Delights today and saw one of her newest creations, chicken with portobellos.  And best of all, Marye says it’s easy to make. 

It’s encouraging to hear stories of how others have made something from blogging.  I’m hoping to get there some day . . . soon.  Congratulations, Marye!    Be sure to stop by and order a copy of her book, Everything Cookies and Brownies.

images (c) Marye Audet

Post from: Keeping the Castle

Go to RealSimple.com/20MinuteMeals, answer three quick questions and you’ll be given a list of recipes from which to choose.  Here are the questions and possible answers:

1)  What is your main ingredient?

• poultry
• meat
• pasta/vegetarian
• seafood

2)  What is your preferred cooking method?

• stove/oven
• no cook
• grill

3)  How much cooking time do you have?

• 15 to 20 minutes
• 25 to 30 minutes

Just to see what would happen, I answered poultry, stove/oven, and 15 to 20 minutes.  By answering those three simple questions I was given 11 recipes.  How does chicken cutlets with tomato saute’ sound? Or how about chicken and cashews in lettuce cups?  The lettuce cups are similar to the Asian lettuce wraps that some Chinese restaurants sell.  They are yummy!

Menu planning can help to save a lot on your monthly grocery bill.  I hope you’ll stop by Real Simple to pick up some easy recipes.

image from real simple

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Organic Prince Edward Island Field Greens with Apple Vinaigrette and Pumpkin Seeds
by Chef Michael Smith

A simple greens salad is both healthy and tasty.  When you toss it yourself with local organic greens and a homemade dressing it can also be a powerful way to support sustainable food choiced.

Serves four

• Four handfuls of local, organic field greens
• 1/2 cup of toasted pumpkin seeds
• 1/4 cup of canola oil
• 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of local honey
• 1 teaspoon of any mustard
• salt and pepper to taste

In a festive salad bowl, whish together the oil, vinegar, honey, and mustard until they form a smooth dressing.  Toss the greens in the dressing until evenly and lightly coated.  Sprinkle on the pumpkin seeds and any other of your favourite locally and seasonally inspired salad garnishes!

Enjoy!

Post from: Keeping the Castle